Question

All ecosystems:

Select one:
a. Once mature never change
b. Are entirely self-sufficient
c. Need a continuous outside energy source
d. Consist of only living organisms
e. None of the above are correct

Answer 1

The correct answer is that all ecosystems require a continuous supply of external energy, mainly from the sun, for sustaining life and performing various processes. Ecosystems are dynamic and depend on energy flow through trophic levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

All ecosystems require a continuous flow of energy to sustain the various life processes of organisms within them. This energy predominantly comes from the sun and is captured by primary producers, like plants, through the process of photosynthesis. The energy is then transferred through different trophic levels in the ecosystem as organisms consume one another.

Additionally, ecosystems are dynamic and change in response to numerous external and internal factors, making the idea of a self-sufficient or never-changing ecosystem inaccurate. Despite their complexity and the interactions between abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components, ecosystems cannot isolate themselves from the need for continuous energy inflow, which is utilized for growth, reproduction, and maintaining internal order within organisms.